Charge forming device



Dec. 25, 1945. e. GERSON 2,391,410

CHARGE FORMING DEVICE I Filed July 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GERHARD GERSON Dec. 25, 1945. G. GERSON CHARGE FORMING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm mm m Nm m mm QN om .mwm m mm mm nv E N NN ON mm w w flw hm a 00 INVENTOR GERHARD GERSON Dec. 25,. 1945. cs. GERSON CHARGE FORMING DEVICEv 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14, 1941 INVENTOR GERHARD GERSQN BY I YATTOR Dec. 25, GERSQN y Y 2,391,410

CHARGE FORMING DEVICE INVENTOR GERHARD GERSON BY v 'h'ATTo u i a Dec. 25, 1945.

CHARGE FORMING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 GERHARD GERSON G. IGERSOIN 2,391,410

Patented Dec. 25, 1 945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE CHARGE r'oiuvmmv DEVICE Gerhard Gerson, Keego Harbor, Mich., assignmto Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 14,1941, Serial No.1 402,41!

7 Claims.

More par-.

Figure 1 is a vertical section,through the pressure regulator, vaporizer, and carburetor of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, through the pressure regulator and vaporizer of another embodiment of this invention;

, Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;

1 Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section,

,through the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and of higher vapor pressure, but also operate with fuels of intermediate and low vapor-pressures, such as natural and regular gasolines. These latter will not vaporize completely with the heat ordinarily available and may thus remain in both liquid and vapor form. Therefore the present apparatus is designed to operate with either a liquid fuel, 'or a gaseous fuel, or any mixture thereof.

An object is to provide a fuel system and apparatus designed to operate efficiently on natural gasolines, for example, 26 pound and 40 pound Reid vapor pressure natural gasolines and the like, in which the fuel consumptionis comparable to that obtained in the present standard type of engine operating on regular gasoline. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a system in which there is a separation of the fuel into liquid and vapor phases, both being effectlvely used in the carburetor or gas-air mixer, whereby the vapor may be utilized asan antiknock compound.

1 Another object is to provide fuel induction apparatus which will operate with fuels of varying vapor pressures without requiring a manual change of adjustments.

carburetor adapted to handle liquid and vapor simultaneously where the fuel ranges from propane to heavy motor fuels.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple,

at right angles to that ofFigu're 2. This figure also shows a vertical section through another embodiment of the carburetor, aligned opposite the liquid and vapor outlets of the regulator and vaporizer but not directly connected thereto; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic section showing a fuel system, incorporating the applicants invention, adapted to operate with a standard carburetor and using both regular gasoline and natural gasoline for fuel. An accelerating pump, economizer, and air strainer as commonly employed. in

' ings, in Figure l are shown the pressure regulator,

vaporizer and carburetor combined as an integral unit. It is to be understood, however, that if preferred, these units may be individual and not integral. regulator while ll indicates the vaporizer or vaporizing chamber and I2 the carburetor. Applicant in this embodiment prefers to use a single stage pressure regulator of the type illustrated in his U. S. Patent No. 2,201,894, issued May 21, 1940. It will be seen by reference to this patent and the drawings presented here that the regulator Ill consists of a body casting I3, preferably of aluminum or other similar material. A cover ll of pressed steel is fittedover the top of the body and encloses the main diaphragm l5 and the interior of the vaporizer. Breathing holes I6 having a screen at H are provided in the cover. A connection for an accelerating pump device,

if desired, may be machined in the boss l8, procompact, and inexpensive system which will be vided for that purpose. An auxiliary regulating device or compensator I9 is attached having a pin 20 adapted to be displaced downward and co-act with the lever arm 2| connected with the flat spring 22 which in turn varies the resistance of the main diaphragm i 5. This diaphragm is stretched across the top of the regulator and held in place in the usual manner. Linked to the diaphragm on its under side is a lever arm 23 pivotally mounted at 24 and having its lower end so constructed that movement of the, arm in a vertical plane causes the valve mechanism 25 to The numeral ill indicates generally the move horizontally to open or close the fuel inlet 26.- The operation of the regulator and valve assembly is fully described in my U. 5. Patent No. 2,201,894, issued May 21, 1940.

The construction and operation of this valve mechanism will be more readily understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3 where greater detail is shown. Coiled springs 21 attached to the yoke 28 and the stem guide 29 bolted to the regulator body serve to assure the proper functioning of this valve. Fuel is admitted to the regulator through the inlet 26 and the restricted orifice 30. Flow of the fuel is controlled throughthe tubular member 3| in which the orifice 3|! is placed and in which is slidably mounted head 32 of valve 25. Movement of this valve either closes the orifice by seating head 32 or retracts the head allowing the fuel to flow through the ports 33 into the vaporizing chamber.

Integral with the regulator body I3 is the vaporizer comprising an outer body member indicated generally by the numeral II and an inner body member 34. These members are separated and form a heating chamber there between. Connections similar to 35-35, Figure 2, leading from the hot water jacket or exhaust gas manifold of the engine provides for the circulation of the hot water or gas as a heating medium in the annular space 36 between members H and 34. A thermostatically governed heat control, not shown, is provided where water from the engine is used to heat the vaporizer to insure raising the water to the proper temperature. It will thus be seen that liquid fuel will flow from inlet 26 and collect in chamber 31 formed on the interior of member 34. Heat transmitted from chamber 36, through member 34, tends to vaporize the liquid. Thus a liquid and a vapor phase of fuel are provided for and may exist within the regulator and vaporizer bodies.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 1, a float 38 is positioned within chamber 31. On the upper end of the float a needle valve 39 is mounted to control the fiow of vapor out of the vapor outlet 40. This needle valve may be of a standard type and has a coiled spring 4| retained by the collar 42 to insure an efficient functioning in opening or closing passage 43 in outlet 40.

On the bottom of float 38 is a needle valve 44 adapted to open or close a liquid outlet passage 45 which is centrally bored through the bottom of the vaporizer chamber. This passage is closed at its lower end by a removable drain plug 46. Horizontally bored through the bottom member is a passage 41 communicating with passage 45 and with a second vertical passage 48 bored in the side wall 49 between the vaporizer and the carburetor. A liquid main adjustment screw 50 is positioned within this wall and adapted to accurately control the now of liquid through passage 41. This screw projects so that it may be manually adjusted from the exterior of the assembly similar in manner to the way a standard carburetor is adjusted.

A second vertical passage in wall 49 provides for the flow of liquid to the motor for idling. It will be seen from Figure 1 that this passage communicates at its lower end with the interior of the carburetor, just below the throttle valve, and at its upper end, through passage '52, with passage 48. A liquid idling adjustment screw 53 is provided and projects from wall 49 so that it may be gianually adjusted from the exterior of the assem- As before mentioned needle valve 39 controls the now of vapor through the main vapor discharge passage 40. This passage at its lower end communicates with the interior of the carburetor through the vapor discharge openings 54. A main vapor adjustment screw 55 is also provided and projects from wall 49 so that a manual adjust ment may be made. Where it is found desirable to include an economizer as part of the auxiliary equipment, see Figure 5, one of the connections to the economizer may be made at this point also.

Communicating with the lower end of passage 1 40. around passage 52, is a smaller vertical passage 56 extending through wall 49 and into the interior of the carburetor below the throttle valve. This passage provides for vapor induction to the carburetor when the engine is operating under idling conditions. A vapor idling adjustment screw 51 is provided and may be manually adjusted to secure the proper flow.

Carburetor l2, as shown in Figure 1, is integral with the vaporizer and regulator. A throttle valve 58 and venturi 59 are provided and are similar to those customarily used in standard gasoline carburetors. Since their operation and construction are well known in the art, it is not further described here. Liquid discharge jet 60 provides a fuel outletfrom passage 52 into the interior of the carburetor. Passage 52 as above described provides a common passage communicating with the liquid passages 48 and 5| in wall 49. It should be noted that vapor idling passage 56 does not communicate with passage 52. Air inlet 6| may be connected to an air strainer as shown in the embodiment of Figure 5. The lower end 62 is connected to the engine intake manifold in the usual manner.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows another embodiment of this invention. A device to make starting of the engine easier is shown attached to the regulator at l8. It comprises a tubular plug 63 externally threaded and screwed into the top of the regulator. This plug is centrally bored throughout and adapted to receive acoil spring 64 and a push pin 65 slidably mounted therein.

A head on this push pin retains the spring in place and contacts the upper end of lever arm 66. This arm is pivotally mounted at 61 and connected at its lower end in any suitable way to a control wire or rod, and thus may be operated from a distant point such as the cab of a truck. The lower end of push pin 55 extends down to a point above spring 22 and may be depressed sufficiently by lever arm 66 to engage the spring and vary the resistance of the main diaphragm l5. It will thus be seen that this starting device can be used for manually enriching the fuel mixture when starting the engine.

Compensator I9 is also shown in greater detail. Reference to applicants above mentioned patent should be made for details of the functioning of this device. A connecting conduit 68 connects the compensator and the liquid fuel inlet from the supply tank. Liquid fuel enters at passage 69 and flows through a fuel filter "into passage 26 and then through orifice 30 as previously described. The connections and assembly of parts are not further described since they are shown in detail in Figure 2.

Construction and operation of the valve mechanism 25 is similar to that previously described.

In this embodiment, Figures 2, 3 and 4, the

- vaporizer I has an outer wall 1| surrounding an inner wall 1.2. Hot water from the engine or exhaust gases are circulated by means, not shown,

attached to the connections 88-88 through the annular space 18 between walls 'II and 12. In this way heat is supplied to vaporize the liquid which has collected within the lower part of expension and vaporization chamber 14 after it flows from oriflce 88. A float 18 in the float chamber 18 raises and lowers its position depending upon the liquid level maintained within. the float chamber. This movement is transmitted through the pivoted arm 11, contacting the top of the float, and the connecting arm 18 to control the position of the vapor needle valve 18. An arm 88 projecting from the side of the float transmits thefloat movement to control the position of the liquid needle valve 8|.

Vapor needle valve 18 is slidably mounted within an upper projecting tubular conduit or'vapor line 82 andheld in position by the annular shoulders 88. As shown this vapor line is externally threaded as at 84 to facilitate mountings within the outer wall 1|. To prevent leakage a gasket 88 is inserted behind shoulder 88. changeable vapor oriflce plate 81 within line 82 cooperates with the needle valve to control the flow of vapor therethrough.

Liquid needle valve 8| is slidably mounted withgasket 8| and ashoulder 82 are provided. Co-' operating with the needle valve is an interchangeable liquidoriflce plate 88 held in position within line 88 by the inserted sleeve member 84. A coiled spring 85 held between oriflce plate 88 and shoulder 88 on the valve stem is provided to assure a proper functioning of the valve.

A drain plug 48 is also provided in this embodiment for chamber 18 as shown in Figures. 2 and 4.

The carburetor shown in Figure 4 is'designed to v be connected by suitable conduits or piping to the vapor line 82 and the liquid line 88 of the combined regulator and vaporizer. Line 82 is An interconnected to the vapor inlet passage 86 which communicates through vertical passage 81 with the main vapor jet 88 in the venturi 88. Liquid line 88 is connected to liquid inlet passage I88 which communicates through the liquid discharge jet I8I into the Venturi chamber. Flow through this jet is controlled by means of the adjustable head piece I82 co-acting with an inner sleeve I88. Liquid for idling purposes is provided through vertical passage I84 which has an outlet port I88 entering below the main throttle valve I88. Flow through this port may be controlled by means of the adjustable screw I81 having a needle point cooperating with the port. Vaporv for idling purposes enters through passage I88 design is illustrated in Figure 4. The liquid side of the device shown in Figure 5, however, is provided with a float chamber of conventional design to alternately permit operation on regular gasoline. -The carbureting means, as shown, is well known and in itself forms no part of my invention. The air strainer I I2 for the air intake, the intake manifold H8, and the exhaust manifold II4 for the engine are the conventional equipment. A choke lever I I5 and a main throttle lever III are also provided. Regular gasoline flows from a supply tank through inlet line II1, valve I I8 into liquid line I I8 and then into chamber I28. A float I2I in this chamber controls this flow in the usual manner. Liquid idling adjustment screw I22 and liquid main adjustment screw I28 are provided to obtain the proper flow. Natural gasoline, propane, butane, or the like flows from a supply tank through fuel inlet line I 24 to the vaporizer and regulator unit I28 as described above in connection with Figures 1 and 2. A compensator I28 and accelerating pump device I21 connected by means of rod I28 to the accelerator lever are also shown connected to the regulator. The accelerating device I21, as shown in Figure 5, comprises an inverted spring pressed cup which is adapted to be depressed'on actuation of the throttle and apply air pressure to the top of the regulator diaphragm I8 through a back pressure valve, not shown, to open valve 82 and form a rich mixture during acceleration. The operation of this device, however, is not material to my invention. Water or exhaust gases from the engine for heating the vaporization chamber in the regulator flow through pipe I29 into the outer chamber or .jacket I88 and out throughpipe I8I. Float I32having needle valve I88 to control the vapor passing through the vapor and suction line I84 and needle valve I88 to control the flow of liquid out through line H8 is mounted within the vaporization chamber of regulator I25. An economizer I 88 having a conduit I81 connecting it to the intake manifold may be used in vapor line I84 to enrich the mixture under certain comparatively high pressure conditions in the intake manifold, for instance, when climbing a hillat low speed and fully opened throttle. The device includes a diaphragm which controls the movement of a valve in vaporline I84. The device acts as an economizer in restricting the vapor flow to form a normal or lean alirvapor mixture at certain low pressure conditions in the intake manifold. A main vapor adjustment screw I88 and a vapor'idling adjustment screw I88 are also provided for the usual control purposes. I

It is to be understood in connection with the Figure 5 embodiment thatinlet line H1 is not essential, but preferred only, and that regular gasoline can be fed through inlet line I24 if desired. In doing so, regular gasoline would flow through the regulator-vaporizer unit to the carburetor in the same way the natural gasoline does. It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the fuel tanks and unit I 25 must either be placed sufllciently high, in relation to the carburetor, to insure gravity flow of fluid thereto or an ordinary fuel pump must be used gaseous or liquid phase fuel. In accordance with I 'carbureted in the device. A carburetor of similar in connection with line II8 to secure the proper flow of fuel into the carburetor.

The operation of my invention will now be described'in connection with the assembled system shown in Figure 5. Natural gasoline or mixtures of gasoline and liquefied gases coming from the supply tank directly or through a fuel pump enter the single stage regulator I25 when the diaphragm governed regulator valve 32, as shown in Figure 1, opens by the suction of the engine, this valve automatically shutting off the fuel flow when the engine is not operating. The fuel wholly or partly vaporizes in the expansion and vaporization chamber of the regulator. From there the vaporized fractions flow through the upper vapor outlet line I34 to the openings in the venturi and from there with the air stream into the intake manifold of the engine. The liquid fractions collect in the lower part of the fioat chamber I32 which forms a part of the expansion and vaporization chamber, and are heated by circulating water Or exhaust gases from the engine passing through the outer chamber or jacket I30 surrounding the float chamber. Liquid not vaporized remains in the float chamber and raises the float thereby opening the lower liquid'outlet passage and closing the upper vapor outlet. Liq uid in the float chamber may then flow through the open passage H9 to the discharge jet in the venturi and from there into the air stream into the engine. a

Since the variable orifice 43 as shown in Figure 1 in the vapor line is chosen large enough to charge the cylinders with the right gas-air mixture when only vapor is available, a needle valve I33 is provided which limits the gas quantity according to the float position. A needle valve I35 in the liquid similarly limits the liquid flow, thus the proportion of vapor and liquid feeding the engine depends first on the position of the fioat, which governs the two needle valves according to the quantity of non-vaporized liquid fuel in the float chamber, and second upon the fact that the liquid jet in the venturi discharges the less fuel the lower the liquid level is in this jet. When the float chamber is filled with liquid-to such an extent that the needle valve I33 in the vapor line is shut off, the needle valve I35 in the liquid line I I9 opens the full orifice. This results in shutting off the regulator valve, since the vapor outlet is closed the suction from the carburetor cannot act on the main diaphragm I to admit more fuel through valve 32 until the pressure in the vaporization chamber again drops below the regulator outlet setting. A slight pressure may be built up due to a temperature rise in the regulator vaporization chamber since vaporization of the incoming liquid fuel does not take place anymore, which will in addition to the force exerted by the fiat spring 22 push diaphragm l5 upward thereby causing head 32 of valve 25 to close orifice 30. No liquid from the fuel supply tank can then enter the regulator until sufficient liquid from the fioat chamber has been used by the engine to lower the float, opening the needle valve in the vapor and suction line. Simultaneously, the pressure, if any, in the regulator will be released and the suction will reopen the regulator inlet valve 32. I

Tension of the flat spring 22 in the regulator is adjusted when the engine is not running so as to just shut off the regulator inlet valve 32 against the inlet fuel pressure, since the suction acting on the diaphragm with starting and idling speed as well as with wide open throttle and low speed is extremely small. If this tension is greater than necessary to overcome the inlet pressure the valve will not be opened with low suction. It is thus apparent that the regulator functions to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the vaporizer, irrespective of the degree of suction communicated thereto from the carburetor induced by air-flow to the engine. As previously stated, vapor control valve I33 is shut off as the liquid valve I35 opens the full orifice to line H9. It is obvious, therefore, from the foregoing description that, for intermediate positions of valves I33 and I35, the total fuel flow induced into the carburetor by air-flow will be composed of various intermediate proportions of liquid and gaseous uel. Since the pressure in the vaporizer is substantially constant, the total fuel flow will always be a function of the air flow due to the degree of suction in the carburetor. The auxiliary regulating device or compensator I26 prevents starting and idling difllculties or having the fuel mixture too lean under full load low speed conditions, where the tension of the spring 22, Figure 2, has been adjusted for a high vapor pressure fuel, and another fuel of low vapor pressure is used. A conduit 68 from the fuel inlet line I24 of the regulator transmits the inlet pressure to the auxiliary diaphragm. The pin 20 connected to this diaphragm acts on the regulator spring and decreases its tension when the inlet pressure is low and increases the tension when fuel of higher vapor pressure is used. This device not only prevents irregularities under starting or idling conditions but makes possible the use of most of the gaseous remainder in the supply tank after the liquid is used regardless of the decreasing inlet pressure. While applicant has described specific embodi- .ments, it is to be understood that the form of this invention, herewith shown and described, is

a preferred example of the same and that various modifications may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A charge forming device for utilizing hydrocarbon fuel, at least certain components of which possess a superatmospheric vapor pressure, comprising a vaporization chamber wherein, on pressure reduction, vaporization of the high pressure components of said fuel to form a gaseous fuel portion and a liquid fuel portion takes place, means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber, carburetion means for said gaseous and liquid fuel portions,

a passage for the gaseous fuel portion and a passage for the liquid fuel portion leading from the vaporization chamber to the carburetion means, whereby fuel flow is induced in accordance with air-flow through said carburetion means, a float for said vaporization chamber, a valve for each of said passages operably connected with said float for controllin the flow of liquid and gaseous fuel portions to said carburetion means in accordance with the liquid level in said vaporization chamber.

2. A charge forming device for utilizing hydrocarbon fuel, at least certain components "of which possess a superatmospheric vapor pressure, comprising a vaporization chamber wherein, on pressure reduction, vaporization of the high pressure components of said fuel to form a gaseous fuel portion and a liquid fuel portion takes place, means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber, carburetion means for said gaseous and liquid fuel portions, a passage for the gaseous fuel portion and a passage for theliquid fuel portion leading from the vaporization chamber to the carburetion means, whereby fuel flow is induced in accordance with air-flow through said carburetion means, a float for said vaporization chamber, a valve for 2,sc1,41o

; A charge forming device according to claim each of said passages operably' connected with said float one of said valves being opened as the other valve is closed.

3. A charge forming device for utilizing hydrocarbon fuel, at least certain components of which possess a superatmospheric vapor pressure, comprisinga vaporization chamber wherein, on pressure reduction, vaporization of the high pressure components of said fuel to form a gaseous fuel portion. and a liquid fuel portion takes place, means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber, carburetion means for said gaseous portion and said liquid portion, whereby fuel flow is induced in accordance with air-flow through said carburetion means, means for proportioning the relative flow of the gaseous portion and the liquid portion to the carburetion means, said means being controlled by the liquid level in the vaporization chamber.

4. A charge forming device for utilizing hydrocarbon fuel, at least certain components of which possess a superatmospheric vapor pressure, comprising a vaporization chamber wherein, on pressure reduction, vaporization of the high pressure components of said fuel to form a gaseous fuel portion and a liquid fuel portion takes place, means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber, carburetion means for said gaseous portion and said liquid portion, whereby fuel flow is induced in accordance with air-flow through said carburetion 3 wherein the means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber includes a fuel inlet and a regulating valve associated therewith said valve being responsive to changes in pressure within the vaporization chamber and controlling the passage of fuel thereinto'.

6AA charge forming device according to claim 3 wherein the means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber includes, a spring controlled diaphragm means responsive to changes in pressure in said vaporization chamber, a fuel inlet to said vaporization chamber, valve means associated with said fuel inlet and controlled by said diaphragm regulating the admission of fuel into the vaporization chamber, and an auxiliary regulating device in direct communication with the fuel inlet and controlled by the pressure of the fuel therein automatically regulating the tension of the springcontrolling the diaphragm'according to variations of pressure of said fuel at the said inlet.

7. A charge forming device according to claim 3 whereinthe means maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the vaporization chamber includes a diaphragm forming two compartments therein, spring means controlling the movennnt.

of said diaphragm and an auxiliary springtension adjusting means in the first of saidcompartments, a fuel inlet means and a valve associated therewith inthe second of said compartments, said valve being associated with said diaphragm and responsive to the movement thereof controlling the flow of fuel through said inlet, said vaporization chamber being in communication with said second compartment.

GERHARD GERSON. 

